Tips / tricks / tools for winding calipers back?

Every car I've had to do brakes on I've loosened the bleed nipple and taken the cap off the cylinder bottle and either just used my hands or for really tough ones, a G-clamp.

g-clamp

I am guessing they are same as mk4 golf as i have just done. Its about £15-20 for proper tool. This is what i used.
www.moatdirect.co.uk/brake-caliper-wind-back-tool-1314-re-wind-piston-563-p.asp
G-clamps wont work, or suppose you could use big circlip pliers, but would personally buy tool, cos if you get it wrong its new calliper time.

for golo ones with the notches in the edge of the piston, ive always just used a bit of flat plate that slots in the holes thats cut to length. if they don't easily wind by hand with that they're borked anyway..

bit of bar welded across an old socket!

Indeed, G clamps muck up up the threads within the caliper on rear items (most have the handbrake mechanism built within the caliper).

Like most I use a caliper rewinding tool, and for the fronts I push them in with an old pad using the tool. I could use a G Clamp but it does seem easier with the tool and old pad.

As other have said, a crowbar's ends or pliers can also do the job, it depends on how much fiddliness you can put up with (this depends very much on the condition of the calipers IME and how badly the pads are worn.).

Are you in Leicester ever? If so, if you could meet up halfway I could loan you mine .

I used a pair of pliers for the ones on the MR2! If they aren't seized up and you remove the reservoir lid it should be reasonable easy.

Well, I used the wind-back tool today and I have to say, it made the job really nice and easy! I'd be worried about stabbing the dust seal by using a screwdriver but other people may be less clumsy! ;D